Panel box



' Dec. 5, 1933. A BLAKMAN 1,937,681

PANEL BOX Filed June 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- ATTORNE Dec. 5, 1933. A. E. BLACKMAN PANEL BOX Filed June 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM! 1 WW M INVENTOR Z0 fllberff. [flack mar? .5

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 JUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" 9 Claims.

the customary fuse block and a plurality of snap switches for controlling the various circuits passingthrough the fuses in the block. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a flexible mounting for the switches. The trim for panel boxes in general use is provided with holes which are supposed to come exactly opposite the switch levers or buttons, while the switches are fixedly mounted upon a bar in gangs,

the bar being welded to the sides of the box. It has been found in practice because of this construction, that when the trim is fastened to the box, the holes often do not register closely enough with the actuating parts of the switches, causing them to bind and wear when operated. In the present invention the flexible mounting of the switches permits them to be moved sufficiently to fit the holes. A further object of the present invention is the provision of individual supports for the switches. Thispermits the ready removal of any switch and its support leaving thezinterior of the box free of obstruction at such a point for the fishing and drawing of wires instead of,

5 as is the present practice, removing all the V switches in a gang with their support. With my type of switch mounting, the switches can be located substantially on line with the fuse plugs and very near them. This simplifies the wiring of the panel box, and it is easy to tell to which fuse plug any switch corresponds.

Other objects and advantages will appear upon further study of the description and drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the panel box with the door open and a portion of the door and the trim broken away to expose the interior of the box; Fig. 2 is a partial section and elevation taken along the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a :40, partial front elevation of the box with some of the switch supporting members broken away and the door, trim and switches omitted; Fig. 4 is a partial section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the trim and its door added, and Fig. 5 is a partial horizontal section through the box, showing the parts disassembled.

Fuse block 6 is mounted upon the bottom or rear of panel box 7. On each side of fuse block 6 are U shaped saddles 8 mounted upon the bottom of said box. Each saddle 8 is pivotally fastened to the bottom of box 7 by means of a screw 9 and washer 10. Snap switches 11, of a well known type, are fixedly mounted upon saddles 8 by means of screws 12. Each switch 11. is placed in circuit with its corresponding fusesocket 14 by (Cl. 247-10) 1 This invention relates to a panel box having means of a metal link 13. This gives a very compact construction, the switch being right next to its'corresponding fuse socket. The portion 22 of one of the legs of saddles 8 overhangs fuse block 6 enabling switches 11 to be brought very close to said block. Furthermore this makes iteasy to trace which socket corresponds to a switch, often a difficult task in panel boxes of usual construction. 1

In panel boxes of usual construction, the support for the gang mounting of the switches, which is usually a bar must be arranged to suit the num-, ber of switches to be mounted upon it. This means that different bars are required for boxes of different numbers of switches. In applicant's construction, because of the individual mounting of the switches, all that is necessary is to prepare the individual mountings or saddles which are identical and therefore can be used in boxes with any different numbers of switches. This greatly simplifies the shop work and makes it possible to carry in stock a large number of parts that are suitable for panel boxes regardless of the, number of switches in a box.

The top or front of box 7is closed by. means of trim 15, having a recessedportionlB. Trim 15 is fastenedto the rest of the box by four screws, one of which is indicated by the numeral l'L- Recessed portion 16 is provided with openings 18 through which switch levers 19 project. A door 20 is mounted upon the trim to close overthe recessed portion 16. In placing trim 15 upon the rest of the box 7, if switch levers 19 do not happento register properly with openings 18, the pivotal mounting of saddles 8 permits adjustment of the switches so that said levers will fit in the openings. Improper fit of the levers in the openings would cause binding between the levers and the edges of, the openings, and forcing the operation of the levers would cause them to scrape and wear, a frequent trouble of panel boxes of ordinary construction.

By referring to Fig. 1, it can be readily seen that if it be desired to fish or draw wires'to or from the box, a switch 11 and its saddle 8 can be removed to make room to do this without disturbing the rest of the switches.

1. In a panel box comprising a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said 5 box, and trim, upon the front of the box, with openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project; a plurality of members individually pivotally mounted upon the bottom of the box each adapted to support one c ci 1,937,681

1 ing opening.

of said switches opposite an opening, each ofsaid members being swin'gable to adjust its switch to suit its corresponding opening.

2.:Ir'1 a panel box comprising a fuse block, a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said block, and trim, upon the front of the box, with openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project; a plurality-of members individually and independently rotatably mounted upon the bottom of thebox adjacent said block, each adapted'to support one of said switches opposite an opening, the rotation of each of said members about its axis of rotation" effecting the adjustment of its corresponding switch to suit its corresponding opening.

3. In a panel box comprising laplurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said box; a plurality of U shaped saddles; each saddle being pivotally mounted at the bottomof the U upon the bottom of the box, the upperjends of the legs of each saddle supporting a switch.

4. In a panel box comprising-a fuse block, a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said block and trim upon the front of the box, with openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project; a plurality of members each of which is adapted to support a switch, said members being rotatably mounted uponthe bottom of the box and inde pendent of each other and located adjacent the fuse block, each member being mounted substantially opposite its corresponding fuse socket of the block and rotatable to adjust the fit of the actuating part of its switch in its correspond- 5. A panel box comprising a fuse block, a pluralityof switches for controlling the circuits through said block, trim mounted upon the box having openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project, and a plurality of members located .in rows on either side of said block, said members being rotatably mounted within the box and independent of each other, each member being located to support a switch opposite its 1 corresponding opening and rotatable to adjust the fit oi the actuating part of itsjswitch in its corresponding opening;

'6. In a' panel'box comprising-a fuse block, a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said block and trim mounted upon the box having openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project; a plurality of members, each of which is adapted to support a switch, said members being rotatably mounted within the box and independent of each other, a portion of each member overhanging said fuse block, each member being rotatable to adjust the fit of the actuating part of its switch in its corresponding opening. 7

'7. In a panel box comprising a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said box; a plurality of U shaped saddles for supporting the switches, the bottom portion of each saddle being pivotally mounted upon the bottom of thebox, the upper end of each of the legs of the saddle being provided with a portion extending substantially at right angles to the leg, said extending portions having provision to be fastened to the switches, a single switch being supported by each saddle. I I

8. In a panelboxcomprising a fuse block and a pluralityof switches for controlling the-circuits through said blockja plurality of saddles m for supporting the switches, the bottom portion of each saddle being pivotally mounted upon the bottom of the box adjacent the fuse'block, the upper end of each saddle being providedwith a pair of projections extending from the body of the saddle substantially at right angles thereto, said projections being on opposite sides of said saddle, one of said projections overhanging the fuse blockjsaid projections having provision to be fastened to the switches, a single switch being a supported by each saddle. f m 11, 10

9. A panel box comprising a fuse block, a plurality of switches for controlling the circuits through said block, trim mounted upon the box having openings therein through which the actuating parts of the switches project, and a 1 1$ plurality of members located in rows, a rowon either side of said block, each member being independently movably mounted within the box adjacent; said block with a portion overhangingsaid block and located to support a switch op- 1E0 positej its corresponding opening and movable to adjust the fit'of theactuating part'of its switch in its correspondingopening. r m

' ALBERT E. BLACKMAN. 

